All participants in this segment welcomed this decision to further consolidate river basin management as a political priorityBadung, Bali (ANTARA) - Participants of the 10th World Water Forum (WWF) agreed on the "Bali Basin Action Champions Agenda," which outlines a new commitment to support river basin management to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"All participants in this segment welcomed this decision to further consolidate river basin management as a political priority by continuing to include river basin issues in high-level political segments," secretary general of the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO), Eric Tardieu, said in Badung, Bali, on Friday.
He informed that the river basin issue also covers the ministry, parliament, and regional government segments.
The Bali Basin Champions Agenda includes collaborative steps such as the launch of the Twin Basin Initiative (TBI), a global program for capacity building and experience exchange between global organizations working on integrated water resources management (IWRM) at the national river basin level and across countries.
To achieve its goal, TBI will support joint capacity-building activities, such as webinars, face-to-face exchanges, and study visits, as well as learning dissemination on a global scale, such as peer-to-peer and at the community level, Tardieu added.
INBO is an organization that monitors the implementation of integrated water resources management — in national and transnational river areas, lakes, and aquifers — from an integrated governance perspective.
The organization also pays attention to strategic planning, joint information systems, and sustainable financing to address the challenges of climate change, biodiversity preservation, and cross-border cooperation as well.
Earlier, at the opening of Basin Segment Day, Indonesian Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Basuki Hadimuljono, said that collaboration is key to the successful management of basins or river areas.
"Basin Segment Day is a valuable opportunity to discuss the next steps to increase cooperation and exchange experiences regarding basin management," he added.
The 10th World Water Forum is taking place in Nusa Dua, Bali, from May 18–25, 2024, to discuss water conservation, clean water and sanitation, food and energy security, and natural disaster mitigation. A total of 244 water-related discussion sessions at the forum are expected to offer concrete results regarding global water management.
A ministerial-level declaration was successfully ratified at the forum. Indonesia's proposals that were included in the declaration comprise the establishment of a Center of Excellence for Water and Climate Security, the designation of World Lakes Day through a UN resolution, and the mainstreaming of water management issues on small islands for developing countries.
In addition, a concrete action compendium covering 113 projects in the water and sanitation sector worth Rp148.94 trillion (US$9 billion) was also ratified at the forum.
Related news: 10th World Water Forum formulates priorities in four regions
Related news: World Water Forum: Indonesia calls for water equity, pushes a CoE
Translator: Kuntum Khaira R, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
